Facing criminal charges can have significant consequences that echo across all aspects of your life. Being convicted can mean spending time in prison, paying serious fines, and having a permanent criminal record. This could result in difficulty finding a job and, if you’re a professional with a license, losing your hard-earned credentials.
Without your license, you can’t work in the field for which you’ve trained. For this reason, it’s wise to hire two separate lawyers if you’ve been charged with a crime: a criminal defense lawyer and a license defense lawyer. Learn more about how these two types of attorneys work together and why having both can be beneficial.
What Is a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
A criminal defense lawyer is an attorney who represents clients facing criminal charges. They investigate the charges and fight to protect their client’s right to a fair legal process.
When you hire a criminal defense lawyer, they’ll look at how the police conducted their investigation to make sure your rights weren’t violated and work to have evidence thrown out if it was obtained illegally. Once they have a good grasp of the case, they’ll prepare a defense strategy to counter the prosecutor’s accusations.
Your criminal defense lawyer will represent you in all court proceedings. During the trial process, they’ll deliver opening and closing statements, present your defense, and cross-examine witnesses. They’ll also object to lines of questioning that are unfairly prejudicial.
One of the most important things your criminal defense lawyer can do is work with the prosecution to obtain a plea deal so you don’t have to go through a full trial and possible conviction. These arrangements typically involve reduced charges and a lighter sentence.
Additionally, your lawyer can assist with appeals. If they suspect legal errors, an appeal could help abbreviate your sentence or get you a new trial.
What Is a License Defense Lawyer?
A license defense lawyer assists clients who are facing disciplinary actions or investigations related to their professional licenses. For example, someone could face the prospect of losing their medical license because of pending criminal charges.
As soon as you’re charged with a crime, you can face disciplinary actions by the relevant licensing board if they believe your alleged actions reflect negatively on your profession. This is the case even if the offense you’re being accused of occurred outside the scope of your job.
You’ll typically be forced to attend a disciplinary hearing before the licensing board, during which your lawyer will present a strong defense to avoid a revocation of your credentials. They’ll contest the allegations and negotiate to protect your rights and career prospects.
If your license is revoked or you face other disciplinary actions by the licensing board, your license defense lawyer can prepare an appeal.
How Criminal Defense and License Defense Lawyers Work Together
If you’ve been charged with a criminal offense, having both a criminal defense and license defense lawyer on your side is vital. Although these lawyers focus on different areas of the law, they often work together to minimize the consequences their clients face.
Identifying Potential Licence Challenges
When you’re charged with a crime, your criminal defense lawyer will likely suggest hiring a license defense attorney, especially if the alleged offense in any way involves professional misconduct.
Once you hire a license defense lawyer, your criminal defense attorney will fully explain your charges so the two professionals can prepare a solid defense strategy. By working together, they may be able to mitigate the impact the charges have on your freedom and profession.
Preparing a Dual Defense Strategy
Having your lawyers work together will make it easier to prepare a defense strategy that extends to all aspects of your life. For instance, a plea deal may give you the opportunity to preserve your license, which could make working with the prosecution worth it. Receiving a reduced charge can often benefit licensing proceedings as well.
Sharing Information
Criminal defense lawyers typically have more contacts and experience when it comes to investigating criminal charges than licensing lawyers do. The former can assess how evidence was obtained, whether the police respected your rights, and a variety of other factors that have shaped your case.
Your license defense lawyer can use all of this information for their case, too, and that information may influence the defense strategy they rely on during hearings. Moreover, your attorney can provide authoritative insight into issues related to professional conduct.
Minimizing Collateral Consequences
A criminal conviction can carry numerous collateral consequences that could leave you unable to find work, struggling to secure housing, and forfeiting some of your civil rights, including your right to own firearms. By working together, your lawyers can help find the best possible solution.
Fighting for Your Freedom and Future
It can be devastating to learn that you’ve been charged with a crime, in more ways than one.
Not only could you face time in prison, but even after you’ve served your time, you could still be presented with considerable challenges. Professionals who require licenses to work are often left unable to continue practicing their occupation, leading to a much lower quality of life.
After receiving word of your charges, you should strongly consider hiring two attorneys. Your criminal defense lawyer will focus on minimizing your criminal charges by providing a robust defense. Meanwhile, your license defense lawyer will work to keep the charges and a potential conviction from impacting your credentials.
The skilled attorneys at Unlock Legal can offer the reliable representation you need when facing the risk of license suspension or revocation.
We have an impressive track record of helping clients protect their careers by aggressively defending them at hearings and pursuing appeals in court. If you’ve been forced to surrender a license in the past, we can also assist in getting it reinstated once the waiting period has passed.
You should never try to get through criminal or licensing proceedings without trustworthy counsel. Contact Unlock Legal today to speak with a qualified lawyer about your case.